Oshkosh painter featured in 'New Trees'

Oshkosh artist Edsel LaBillois will present an exhibit of his paintings, New Trees, in the library's Langdon Divers Gallery in August. The public is invited to a reception at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 9, at the gallery. Refreshments provided.

LaBillois, who says he has been influenced by the work and the work ethic of Picasso and Van Gogh, will show spare landscapes that focus on the essence of the subject matter.

“I set out with the goal to truly modify the image to that what my mind needs to see,” he said. “In every piece I create, there is a reduction of unnecessary elements. I work toward stripping the composition down to only what I feel needs to be present.

“Composition and color are the most important things in my work, although for subject matter, I keep coming back to painting trees of all kinds.”

LaBillois’ exhibit is presented by Fond du Lac Visual Arts, a professional arts group devoted to art awareness and education, development and enhancement of artists’ skills and strengthening connections between art and commerce in the Fond du Lac area.